Drilling at ASX- and JSE-listed Orion Minerals’ Boksputs project, in the Northern Cape, has intersected sulphide mineralisation adjacent to the strong electromagnetic (EM) conductor.
The presence of sulphide mineralisation in the first two diamond drill holes completed to test the exciting 3000s – 6000s EM conductor at Boksputs is an important development, which MD and CEO Errol Smart said “indicates a reducing deposition environment that is favourable for the deposition of volcanogenic massive sulphide- (VMS-) style mineralisation”.
He explained that, owing to underlying geotechnical conditions, the holes deviated off course at depth and only intersected the edges of the target anomaly – making this what exploration geologists like to call a “near-miss” situation.
After conducting down-hole EM in both holes, the target has been further refined and Orion is now continuing with a wedge hole off one of the parent holes to vector into the zone of highest conductivity.
This is where the miner believes the strongest accumulation of sulphide mineralisation may occur.
“Current drilling incorporates the latest down-hole motor, directional drilling technology, greatly improving our ability to steer the hole to intersect the conductive high,” Smart commented.